Eco Retrofit Beginners Guide - SuperHomes

Eco retrofitbeginner’s guide

ContentsWhy Bother?Where to Start?The wish list of eco improvementsChoosing between optionsEco-retrofitting can be more than energy efficiencyHow do I start and where can I get help?Getting the work doneWho pays?Is there a down side?Last word

Why bother?The variety in motives is only matched by the variety inhomes. Reasons to do environmental improvementsinclude:Making the home more comfortableReducing fuel billsBringing it up to dateHelping to save the planetInvesting for the futureIncreasing asset valueKeeping tenants happyKeeping up with neighbours and friendsRealising the dream of becoming carbon neutral

And homes vary tremendously:Old or quite newIn need of much renovation or good conditionCold and draughty or warmExpensive to heat or normalIn a conservation areaIn a block of flats or detachedUnique or bog standardAnd usually with many individual features.Whatever the motive, whatever the dwelling type andcondition, eco retrofitting can satisfy the motives andimprove the home, it can be done on a small or grandscale, it can be cheap or expensive, fast or slow. Here’show to make a start!contents

Where to start?You can either take a full approach with the intention ofdoing everything needed to make your home an eco-houseor Superhome, or an opportunistic approach doingsomething or in some part of the building. Linking ecoimprovements to other works is always a good idea, it islikely to be cheaper and minimise disruption. Many peoplehave extensive improvements carried out when they buy anew home, they have to adapt it to their lifestyle and this isthe ideal time to consider all eco improvements. On theother hand, many useful eco retrofits can be opportunistic,when the boiler fails, when the roof leaks, when having anew kitchen or bathroom, when windows need replacing,when the walls need re-plastering and so on. Whenplanning the work and talking to the architect or builder,that is the time to come up with the list of energyimprovements that you want to see eventually in the wholehouse. What are they?contents

The wish list of ecoimprovementsIts not rocket science, but it is good science:Reduce heat loss through walls and windows,roofs and floorsStop draughts and control ventilationGenerate required heat efficientlyDistribute and control it efficientlyGenerate (and store) your hot water efficientlyMinimise other electricity demands - for lighting,cooking and appliancesConsider solar water heating and PV generationInstall water saving devicesConsider rainwater collection and useEducate all the home occupants not to wasteenergy (could be first on the list)

Ideally you should consider and take action, whereappropriate and possible, on all the above points. Somewill prove very easy, such as installing low energy lighting(if you have not already done it), buying the most efficientfridges and other appliances, setting the thermostat at thelowest level for comfort, etc.Other improvements may be fairly straightforward andsimple, such as changing the boiler, draughtstripping,insulating the loft, but still more can be disruptive andexpensive, like replacing the windows and insulating solidwalls. But then the benefits depend on the house itself, itscondition and how you use it.So, keep everything in mind and make logical decisions.contents

Choosing between optionsLet’s start with the situation where you have bought anolder new home or have one in which you want and areable to do, comprehensive improvements. A typical actionlist is:If you have a loft, insulate it with 300mm or moreof insulationIf you have cavity walls, fill the cavities and consideradditional insulationIf you have solid walls, consider external insulationwhere this will compliment the external appearanceof your houseIf you have solid walls and an external appearancethat should not be changed, add internal insulationChange all windows to double or even tripleglazing, with argon fill and low-e coatings, thesecan be made to replicate the appearance of thecurrent windows

If you cannot change the windows for any reason,add secondary glazingAdd insulation to the ground floors, either from thecellar or by lifting floor board or building a newfloor. Make sure it is sealed against air penetrationDraught strip all doors, loft hatch and all windows.Fill any other air leakage paths around pipe entriesInstall humidity controlled extractor fans in kitchensand bathroomsMake sure you have a modern condensing boiler (ifon the natural gas network), a modern condensingboiler if using oil or LPG, wood burning boiler orstove, or an efficient heat pump, ground sourced ifpossibleUse a gas combination boiler for hot water, or awell insulated storage cylinder systemFit a boiler controller, room thermostat andthermostatic radiator valves, on wet systemsFit low energy lighting throughout, compactfluorescent or LEDs

Fit appropriate water efficient taps,toilets and showersBuy the most efficient kitchen andother electric appliancesConsider a solar water heating systemfor domestic hot waterConsider adding photovoltaic panelsto generate electricityThere is no definitive best or “correct” order to install thesemeasures, it depends on the dwelling itself, its condition,the money available and what other major changes you aremaking.Your decision making, if you cannot address all issues, isbest assisted using a computer energy programme such asthe NHER, which will show the sequential energy savingsfrom adding in different measures.

If you want to implement partial environmentalimprovement when carrying out other works, it isworthwhile considering the list above and seeing whatcould be integrated with those works. Almost any workscan fairly easily include some components from the list andthis, over time, can result in your house approaching“Superhomes” standard. You may equally be inspired to dospecific energy conservation works instead of acomprehensive package, e.g. solid wall insulation orwindow replacement.contents

Eco-retrofitting can bemore than energy efficiencyWater saving fittings and collection and use of rainwaterhave already been mentioned as good environmentalideas. Sustainable drainage where rainwater is allowed topercolate back into the soil rather than run off into themain drainage system is another. Other things you may liketo consider are mostly about materials choice:Selecting recycled components or products madefrom recycled material e.g. cellulose insulation likeWarmcellChoosing wood from sustainable sources, FSC(Forest Stewardship Council) certified timberMaterials which fix carbon e.g. wood, hempcretePaints and other materials that do not off-gasnoxious fumes - water based paints mostlyAvoiding oil based products e.g. PVCBy Simon Burton

And generally products with low embodied energy,low environmental impact in manufacture, locallysourced and recyclable at the end of their life.contents

How do I start and wherecan I get help?At present we live in a time where knowledge andexperience of sustainable refurbishment of houses does notexist widely and care should undoubtedly be taken to get itright. Thus, employing a specific expert sustainabilityadvisor is like employing an architect, it will cost money butit will lead to a better, and overall better value for money,result in the long run. But the expert has to be good, socheck references and speak to previous clients and visitcompleted dwellings if possible.A list of experts is available on the Superhomes web site.There is no doubt that if you know what you want andunderstand the issues and options, your negotiations withthe experts will be more fruitful. You could start with someof these:

You can bone up using numerous books, e.g.Sustainable Home Refurbishment by DavidThorpe, Handbook of Sustainable Refurbishment –Housing by Simon Burton, both published byRoutledgeYou can go on courses, for example at the Centrefor Alternative Technology in WalesYou can visit completed houses open house days.See Superhomes, Bristol Green Doors and EcoOpen Houses Brighton & HoveMany local authorities have energy show houseswhich are full of information and relevant productsMany product manufacturers, for example of wallinsulation systems, have technical advice serviceswhich will supply information as they do not wishtheir products to be misused and given a bad nameThe Energy Saving Trust technical publications areavailable on-line and these are full of reliableinformation on every aspect of house energy

enovation at a detailed level. See “Housingprofessionals” at:energysavingtrust.org.uk/publications/searchBuilders merchants such as B&Q stock lots ofenergy related products and can provide goodideas and adviceThere is of course the one stop shop of a reallygood builder, if you know onecontents

Getting the work doneSome builders are getting into the sustainablerefurbishment business, realising that it is the future andcan be profitable. A builder who knows about ecorefurbishment and has experience in fitting insulation,sealing air leaks, finding good windows, installing efficientheating systems and even renewable energy systems, islikely to be able to give the right advice, do the work atreasonable cost and give the best, reliable results. TheSuperhomes website has the “My green Builder” section.Another route is to use companies who specialise inspecific works such as external wall insulation, or cavityfilling. They will have specialist equipment, proventechniques, reliable insurance backing and a large body ofexperience. Often you will find that your builder willsubcontract to such specialists.contents

Who pays?Not surprisingly, you will normally have to come up withthe money to pay for the improvements. Specific loansfrom building societies can sometimes be obtained e.g. theEcology Building Society, and it is hoped that theforthcoming government scheme the “Green Deal” willmake loans available for energy renovation works whichwill be paid back automatically by fuel bill savings, and theloans stay with the house and will be transferred to thenew owner if you sell. Some local authority grants may beavailable from time to time.But you will get a cash payback, fuel bills will be reduced.Any energy calculation programme will estimate how muchyour fuel bills will be reduced by, depending on whatactions you take and this will be hundreds of pounds everyyear. Payback of the capital spent can be less than 10years and from then on the annual savings are simpleprofit. When you have your Energy Performance Certificate

done when you want to sell your house, it will have ahigher rating theoretically adding to the value of thehouse.The non-financial payback will often be significant, yourhouse will be more comfortable to live in, it will heat upquicker and cool down slower, you won’t get cold radiationfrom solid walls and single glazed windows, nor colddraughts. If you want to live in a good quality home, aSuperhome, you will never regret the effort spent onmaking it energy efficient and sustainable.contents

Is there a down side?Parting with the cash and the disruption of having buildersin your home, are likely to be the worst things you have tosuffer. Your local planners may want to be consulted if youintend to change the appearance in conservation areas orwith listed buildings, solar panels are sometimes a stickingpoint. Internal wall insulation will reduce room sizes slightlybut the removal of cold areas near windows will effectivelybalance this out. External wall insulation may requiremoving gutters and drain pipes and losing a little gardenspace or moving plants close to the house. Sealing up olddraughts may make the house stuffy at times, which is whywe recommend extractor fans, but windows can always beopened.When the works are complete there is nothing to fear. Theimprovements will be robust and long lived.contents

Last wordThe last word has to be about how you and your family livein the home. An eco renovated Superhome makes itpossible to minimise energy use but it’s the occupants thatmake all the difference. We are always being told how weshould live to minimise our carbon footprint:Have the heating on only when we need itKeep windows closed unless you need ventilationTake showers rather than deep baths – and nopower showers!Turn off lights when they are not needed, even lowenergy lightsDon’t fill the kettle for a cup of tea, Boil only asmuch water as you need, use your microwave, don’tleave equipment on standbyAnd living in a Superhome is no different but it makes anenergy efficient lifestyle much easier.contents

www.superhomes.org.ukWritten by Simon Burton May 2012